Yuma man sentenced in Foothills yogurt shop disturbance case
The man charged in connection to brandishing a gun and causing a disturbance outside a yogurt shop in the Foothills last year has been sentenced.
On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Superior Court Judge David Haws sentenced Steven Covington to 36 months of supervised probation for disorderly conduct – display of a handgun.
Covington, who was represented by the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office, pled guilty to the offense in a plea offer late last year.
In return for his guilty plea, a charge of aggravated assault against him was also dismissed.
The incident allegedly occurred because Covington
did not want to wear a face mask and gloves, which the store was requiring of all its customers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Covington, who had been out of custody after posting a $25,000 bond, appeared in person at the hearing. He had also been previously ordered to be fitted with an electronic monitor and undergo drug screening.
According to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 6:17 p.m. on
July 9, deputies responded to Tiki Hut Frozen Yogurt, 11274 S. Fortuna Road.
It was reported that a man, later identified as Covington, entered the store while not wearing a face mask. An employee explained to him that gloves and a face mask were required in order to be served, and that the business would provide them to him if needed.
Covington reportedly became upset and began dispensing frozen yogurt into his bare hands before eventually being escorted out of the store by an employee.
Once outside, Covington went back to his vehicle, allegedly retrieved a handgun and began following the employee back to the store’s entrance.
The employee, however, was able to lock the door before Covington could get inside, at which time YCSO said he began pointing the gun at the employee.
He then reportedly tried to gain entry into the business next door, while still holding the handgun.
Covington fled the area before deputies arrived but was located a short time later, still in possession of the handgun.
Deputies were able to disarm Covington and arrest him without further incident.